Lake County K9s Earn Top Awards At Multistate Competition: Sheriff

LAKE COUNTY, IL — Dax and Zeus, two canines for the Lake County Sheriff's Office, recently earned top awards at a multistate competition. Sheriff Deputy John Forlenza, along with Dax, and Deputy Kevin Harris, along with Zeus, traveled to Port Huron, Michigan, to participate in the United States Police Canine Association Region #19 Police Dog/Detector Dog Trial.

According to LCSO, this is an "intense" evaluation and competition, consisting of 32 dogs from across several states. The competition involves tracking, narcotics searching, cadaver detection, obedience, scent work (suspect and article searches), apprehension, and apprehension with gunfire.

Forlenza and K9 Dax finished first in obedience, article search, suspect search, tracking, cadaver detection and third place in criminal apprehension.

Harris and K9 Zeus took second place in article search, suspect search, tracking and cadaver detection.

"We have amazing K9 teams at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Our 10 canine teams are truly an incredible asset to Lake County," Sheriff John D. Idleburg said. "Their talents were again proven by the success of Deputy Forlenza/K9 Dax and Deputy Harris/K9 Zeus at the USPCA Regional Certification. I could not be prouder of Deputies Forlenza, Harris, and their K9 partners."